By then, only 13 years from now, the reports says, the hydro power sector will account for about 29% of the gross electric power capacity in the country. Most recent figures put hydro’s share of the installed electric power market down two full percentage points to 20%, adds the report.

By 2020, the exploitation of hydro in China should be at about 68% of potential resources, which would place the country among other leading nations in the use of the renewable energy.

The Chinese government recently released its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of an initiative on climate change, and hydro power features as a strand with a key role to play. In the document – ‘China’s national Climate Change programme’ – it was noted that the total installed capacity of hydro in China was 117GW at the end of 2005.

* For more information on the report, ‘2007-8 Report on the Survey & Forecast of Investment proposect of Hydropower Industry in China’, contact: www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c59942